AI News Daily – February 19, 2026
Your daily roundup of the latest artificial intelligence news, explained in simple English.
1. MIT Launches AI Project to Help Fight Poverty
Source: MIT News
MIT’s research group called J-PAL is starting a new project called ‘Project AI Evidence.’ This project will bring together governments, technology companies, and nonprofit organizations with expert economists. Their goal is to test and improve AI tools that can help reduce poverty around the world. The project will use MIT’s global network to make sure AI solutions actually work and help people who need it most.
2. Scientists Debate: Can AI Really Make New Discoveries?
Source: Science News
Scientists are having a big debate about whether AI can truly discover new things or just search through existing information. A mathematician at UCLA used ChatGPT to help prove a new math theory, and a physicist used AI to find patterns in black hole equations. However, some experts worry that AI is better at finding answers inside a box of information rather than thinking creatively outside the box. The debate continues about whether AI will change how science works.
3. Companies Spending Big Money on AI in 2026
Source: Journal of Accountancy
A new survey shows that three out of four company leaders plan to spend more money on technology this year, with almost half planning to increase their budgets by 10% or more. Nearly 60% of companies plan to invest more in AI tools. At the same time, companies are hiring fewer new workers, with hiring growth dropping from 6% last year to just 2% this year. This shows companies are choosing to invest in AI technology instead of hiring more people.
4. Chinese Company DeepSeek Preparing New AI Model
Source: Economic Times
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, is getting ready to release a new version of their AI model called V4. Last year, their previous model caused big changes in the stock market, with one company losing $600 billion in value in a single day. The new V4 model will be faster and use less computer memory. However, some countries like Italy and Denmark have banned government workers from using DeepSeek because they worry about data security and privacy.
5. AI Chatbots Becoming Research Assistants for Scientists
Source: Science News
More scientists are using AI chatbots like ChatGPT as research helpers or ‘buddies.’ These AI tools can help scientists work through complex problems by suggesting different approaches and making connections between ideas. One scientist spent 12 hours working with ChatGPT to prove a math theory. While the AI made mistakes along the way, the scientist could correct it and keep moving forward. However, experts warn that AI can also create fake or wrong information, so human scientists still need to check the work carefully.
All news stories are summarized in simple 9th grade English to make AI developments easy to understand for everyone.